At The Inmate Connection, we are dedicated to being the premier support service for incarcerated individuals and their families. Our team is made up of compassionate former inmates and resilient loved ones of those currently incarcerated, people who understand the challenges firsthand and believe in the power of second chances. United by empathy and determination, we work to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation. Our mission is to help individuals use their time in incarceration to grow personally and strengthen their relationships with loved ones. The Inmate Connection also strives to offer release assistance through our Inmate Connection Release Program.
In the United States, nearly 1% of the population is incarcerated—about 1 in every 100 people. Each week, over 10,000 parolees are released, yet the path to reentry is steep: around 67% are expected to re-offend within two years. Why? Many are released without basic necessities—no address, phone number, valid ID, or email—making it nearly impossible to apply for a job in today’s digital world. This lack of support is one of the biggest barriers to successful reintegration.
Most parolees are simply looking for a fair chance at legitimate employment, a vital step toward rebuilding their lives. At The Inmate Connection, we partner with like-minded employers who are committed to offering meaningful job opportunities before an inmate’s release, helping lay the groundwork for long-term success. We also understand that emotional support during incarceration is just as important. Many inmates receive little to no mail, which can lead to feelings of isolation. To combat this, we offer mail packages and pen pal listings to ensure they remain connected and encouraged. Additionally, our customized special occasion packages allow loved ones to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and other meaningful moments—bringing light and connection, even from behind bars.
We also provide inmates with a meaningful way to express their gratitude to loved ones. Through our wide selection of gift packages and personal items, inmates can send heartfelt tokens of appreciation for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. Throughout the year—especially during the holiday season—we distribute updated order forms to ensure access to timely and thoughtful options. While all direct inmate orders are processed by mail, we’ve introduced an additional service in response to customer demand: friends and family can now place orders on behalf of an inmate. This convenient option helps save inmates the cost of postage, envelopes, and check processing time, making it easier for them to stay connected.
At The Inmate Connection, we are especially committed to supporting children with incarcerated parents. We understand firsthand how challenging this experience can be, and we strive to strengthen the bond between parents and their children during incarceration. Throughout the year, we offer incarcerated parents the opportunity to send meaningful items to their children, reminding them they are always loved and remembered. To further support these connections, our team organizes holiday and birthday drives, helping parents provide gifts for their children—especially when resources are limited. We also create opportunities for children to send something special to their incarcerated parent, reinforcing the importance of mutual connection. Maintaining strong family ties during incarceration is vital, and we offer a range of additional resources to support both inmates and their loved ones.
The changes we hope to see in our justice system won’t happen overnight—but at The Inmate Connection, we are committed to making a lasting impact, one step at a time. As we work toward a better future, we’re continually inspired by your stories and are here to support you. Whether you're currently incarcerated, recently released, awaiting release, serving a long sentence, or have no release date at all—this space is for you. We’re also here for families and friends affected by incarceration, as well as those who simply want to help by supporting our mission. We recognize that families are often the silent victims, enduring the pain of separation from a loved one. That’s why we offer a range of services to help maintain those connections—from weekly updates to our anonymous advice column to special gift baskets inmates can send to show appreciation for their loved ones. Be sure to explore our shop and discover how you can stay involved and connected.
MEET THE TEAM
OUR FOUNDERS
The Inmate Connection was founded at a kitchen table by a husband-and-wife team who personally experienced the hardships of incarceration—one as a prisoner, the other as a prison spouse. Together, they faced judgment, obstacles, and countless barriers, but their unwavering support for each other carried them through the most difficult chapter of their lives. It quickly became clear that the challenges don’t end after release and that our justice system is deeply flawed. Motivated by their own journey, they now work side by side each day to support others in similar situations and to actively reduce recidivism through compassion, connection, and meaningful reform.
Join Our Team
CURRENT employment opportunities
Inmate Advocate
Job Requirements:
Must live within 20 miles of Windsor, Colorado
Must be 21 years old
Must be reliable and punctual
Bachelors degree preferred
Must have a genuine interest in assisting inmates and their families
Job Duties:
Assist inmates with subscriptions, penpal profiles (typing & uploading), various other inmate needs
Assist with gift preparations for our birthday drive for children of released inmates
Assist with release package preparations. We begin working with inmates 18 months prior to their release.
Various other tasks
We are currently hiring!!!!!!
A message to interested applicants:
The Inmate Connection serves inmates and loved-one’s of inmates across the United States and beyond. To support our mission of reducing recidivism and offering felons meaningful and lawful employment, we are proud to have a staff exclusively built on a collective of former inmates and loved ones of the incarcerated. We want all of our customers to know that when they’re communicating with us, we understand where they are coming from, and we understand how important your incarcerated loved one is to you. We also understand how difficult it can be for inmates to be separated from their families, we give them the same attention, consideration and empathy we give to our clients, holiday and birthday drive recipients, and donors on the outside. We are proud to help bridge the gap between families during incarceration. If you are not a former inmate or personally affected by incarceration but are still interested in our mission and becoming involved, please let us know! We are always looking to expand our programs and community involvement.
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